Their Influence

Today I took Trae man out for a stroll. It was a nice break after having 4 kids running high fevers and waiting out the Ark-building weather.

It was a wonderful day. With the sun shining, the brisk air feeling good to breathe, leaves falling and the crunch of acorns beneath your shoes.

I asked Trae if he was having a nice time. He said "yep."

He wasn't able to ask that of me but I thought he would if he could.

I was in deep thought.
Thoughts that took me back to my mom,
like so many other times and always around holidays and decorating for the seasons.
She had "seasonal flair," I called it.

Like, amazingly good. I was always impressed by her creativity.

She had two famous lines when we would be out shopping. If an item was a great price, she'd say, "Oh, I couldn't make it for that -let's buy it!" or if the workmanship wasn't great, she'd say. "Oh, I can do better than that," and with energy and a studious face, she went about making something from all kinds of supplies. I called her the original Martha. And as I think about it now, probably "MacGyver" too.

This fall she would be happy to know that I am continuing the tradition of making corn husk dolls in their beautiful yet simple and unadorned, raw form - just like she did and just the way they were so gracefully displayed on our Thanksgiving table.

I am so thankful for mothers.

I hope they know their influence.